In the automobile sector there are multiple awards that distinguish the best cars of the year. And among them, there is an international one that, since 2009, has been awarded annually by a jury made up exclusively of women specialized in motor journalism. We are referring to the Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY), which chooses the best new models on the market in different segments: family (Volvo EX30), saloon (BMW Series 5), SUV (Kia EV9), 4×4/pick-up ( Volkswagen Amarok) and exclusive car (Aston Martin DB12).
The culmination of the recognition comes with the designation of the world’s car of the year, which this year went to the Kia EV9, a model that was a finalist in the car of the year award in Europe (it was won by the Renault Scenic) and won the distinction for the best car of the year Moveo La Vanguardia.
The voting criteria of the jury, made up of 75 specialists from a total of 52 countries on all continents, is based on the same principles that guide any driver when purchasing a vehicle. It is not “the woman’s car” because such a concept does not exist, but a car for everyone. The final decision is based on aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, drivability and environmental footprint, among others.
In this edition of the awards, 63 candidates aspired to achieve one of the awards. “This year’s election has been especially difficult due to the excellent level of all the candidates,” said Marta García, executive president of WWCOTY. Finally, the balance has tipped towards the Kia EV9, the Korean brand’s first large electric SUV with up to seven seats. The jury highlighted that, despite its 5 meters long, it has good aerodynamics, has an innovative design, incorporates a large dose of technology – with up to level 3 of autonomous driving -, offers bidirectional charging and has ultra-fast charging of 800 volts.
“The Kia EV9 is a real catalyst for electric vehicles. Probably in the future we will say that with their launch, electric cars became truly affordable, easy to use and desirable for all consumers. No other vehicle has pushed the frontiers of design and engineering to this limit,” highlighted American journalist Tanya Gazdik.
On the other hand, the Estonian engine specialist, Ylle Rajasaar, wanted to point out the good performance of the model in extreme climates: “I tested it at -25º C and it warmed up quickly, without problems.” Likewise, she assures that “the electronic four-wheel drive and the different driving modes make the EV9 an excellent vehicle in the cold Nordic winter.”
Another area in which the Korean SUV has stood out is in its interior design, approved for seven people and which can be transformed into a living room thanks to the 180-degree rotating seats. The most powerful version, with two electric motors, is capable of producing up to 384 HP with impressive performance.